Belinda Jeursen

 

I am the Executive Officer of the Baking Industry Association of New Zealand. My work with BIANZ centres on assisting bakers in their businesses, raising the standard and profile of baking in New Zealand and advocating on behalf of the craft baking industry.

My involvement with the industry and BIRT goes back to 2000 when I worked in bakery training and education. I subsequently wrote two books for BIRT, “Café Cakes”, with Sue Zydenbos, and “The New Zealand Baker’s Glossary”. I was also instrumental in setting up and maintaining the BIRT website. I attended part-time baking courses during this time then worked as a craft baker for three years to gain insight into the industry and indulge my obsession with baking. In past lives I have been a researcher, lectured in English, worked in marketing and PR, and as a journalist, but baking remains my one true love.